I'm back and I'm so sad.
 

I joined this forum in 2011.

SEVEN YEARS AGO.

The drinking has escalated a good bit since then. Nursing a raging vodka hangover today.

I'm about to hit rock bottom. It has to stop. But I'm so sad because I don't think I can do it in the long run. That said, I'm not going to drink today.

Welcome back. Today is good. Just keep focusing on that. Tomorrow, say it again. "I will not drink today"

Take it day by day, pocket panda. Don't be so hard on yourself, you have another opportunity now to quit, that's a good thing.

I've been here, on and off for years. I know that feeling.

My last hangover was this week, hiding from work, reeking of vodka. I know that pain.

Welcome back.

Don't believe everything you think.

You can do this. :ring

that's all you can do. Rinse and repeat. Don't give up hope.

Thanks all. It's very much appreciated.

Also, I like this way of thinking. I'm very lucky I do have the opportunity to quit.

You really can do it.

I want a pocket panda!

You’ve got this!!! I’ll join you in not drinking today!

Hi and welcome back PocketPanda.

I tried for 15 years to stop :)

I allowed myself to believe I was one of those guys who'd never be able to quit.

When I finally quit I had no choice- it was do or die.

I had to change a lot of things in my life - what I did for fun, the way I dealt with life, the people I gathered around me- but I quit and I've stayed quit.

You can too PP :)

Hi Panda! You sound so down, and I hope being sober will give you hope and optimism. You really can do it! And you don't have to wait to hit rock bottom; you can decide enough is enough right now :) :) :)

Welcome back Pocket Panda. I joined in 2014 and tried unsuccessfully to quit at least 3 or 4 times. Each time it was more difficult to quit. Most of us have been where you are. We are here for you.

That said, I'm not going to drink today.

Really, that's all you can do today. So if you don't drink today, call it a successful day.

Tomorrow, when you wake up, say I'm not going to drink today.

Then don't. And then, call that day a success.

(are you seeing a pattern here?)

sobriety is a journey. All journeys have bumps in the road. At least you're trying!

Yes, as others have said, one day at a time. Remember the old cliche, today is the first day of the rest of your life. It's true. And don't base the future on past attempts. Learn from them and continue to try. You only fail when you stop trying.